Workers Compensation

Discrimination is illegal if you belong to a protected class as outlined by federal or state law. These legally protected categories include age, disability, gender, pregnancy, race, national origin, military status, and religion. Several states also define sexual orientation as a protected category. Favoritism or nepotism in the workplace may be unfair, but the treatment of this sort is not necessarily illegal.

The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) enables eligible employees to take a leave of absence for up to 12 weeks per year for one or more of the following reasons:

* Medical leave if an employee is unable to work due to a serious illness
* For the birth and care of a newborn child
* The recent adoption of a child by the employee
* To care for an immediate family member, including a spouse, child, or parent

In addition to this federal statute, many states have separate family leave regulations that allow individuals time away from the office to care for their loved ones.

These laws can be very complex, and there are many exceptions and restrictions on the right to take medical and family leave. For example, individuals working for businesses with less than 50 employees are not eligible for unpaid leave under the FMLA. However, they may be eligible under their state's laws. If you are considering taking leave from your job, you should consult an attorney who can determine your eligibility and explain your rights under federal and state employment laws.

The courts have ruled that employees have few privacy rights when using their employers' computer systems. All websites visited by workers may be tracked, and non-work-related sites may be blocked. All employers should have an acceptable use policy that outlines internet use in the workplace and any sites which may not be visited. If an employee knowingly violates this policy, he or she may be disciplined accordingly.

Unless your employment contract or company policy specifies the presence of a severance package in the event of discharge, you are probably not entitled to a severance package. In many instances, employers offer a severance package in exchange for your agreement to a confidentiality or non-competition contract or to secure the release of any employment-related claims you may make. Before signing any severance agreement, it is important that you contact an employment attorney to ensure your rights are protected.